Greece eyes alliance of southern EU states against austerity in Athens Meeting today

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras invited the leaders of six southern EU countries to a conference in Athens today September 9, as he moves to form an alliance against the austerity-driven agenda of the bloc’s northern members.

The leaders of France, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Malta are meeting in Athens today to work out proposals for their own vision of European structure and EU policies.

According to government sources, the aim of the meeting of Mediterranean EU countries is boosting cooperation and coordination so that Euromed countries strengthen their intervention on the European agenda and leave their mark on it.

The meeting will focus on: a) issues of EU foreign policy, with emphasis on regional security and peace, b) growth with emphasis on tackling unemployment and strengthening social cohesion and attracting investment, and c) European policy on the migration-refugee issue.

Sources close to Tsipras say the time is right to create a strong southern “axis” to counter the influence of countries in northern Europe.

The government is keen to find supporters of debt restructuring and lower primary surplus targets set by its creditors, as well as forming a united front on migration, with fears the Greek islands could see a sharp influx of asylum seekers should the shaky EU-Turkey deal collapse.